real estate

The History of Friday the 13th

Long considered a harbinger of bad luck, Friday the 13th has inspired a late 19th-century secret society, an early 20th-century novel, and a horror film franchise. Additionally, it has inspired not one, but two unwieldy terms—paraskavedekatriaphobia and friggatriskaidekaphobia—that describe fear of this supposedly unlucky day.

THE FEAR OF 13

Just like walking under a ladder, crossing paths with a black cat or breaking a mirror, many people hold fast to the belief that Friday the 13th brings bad luck. Though it’s uncertain exactly when this particular tradition began, negative superstitions have swirled around the number 13 for centuries.

While Western cultures have historically associated the number 12 with completeness (there are 12 days of Christmas, 12 months and zodiac signs, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 gods of Olympus and 12 tribes of Israel, just to name a few examples), its successor 13 has a long history as a sign of bad luck.

The ancient Code of Hammurabi, for example, reportedly omitted a 13th law from its list of legal rules. Though this was probably a clerical error, superstitious people sometimes point to this as proof of 13’s longstanding negative associations.

Fear of the number 13 has even earned a psychological term: triskaidekaphobia.

WHY IS FRIDAY THE 13TH UNLUCKY?

According to biblical tradition, 13 guests attended the Last Supper, held on Maundy Thursday, including Jesus and his 12 apostles (one of whom, Judas, betrayed him). The next day, of course, was Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.

The seating arrangement at the Last Supper is believed to have given rise to a longstanding Christian superstition that having 13 guests at a table was a bad omen—specifically, that it was courting death.

Though Friday’s negative associations are weaker, some have suggested they also have roots in Christian tradition: Just as Jesus was crucified on a Friday, Friday was also said to be the day Eve gave Adam the fateful apple from the Tree of Knowledge, as well as the day Cain killed his brother, Abel.

FRIDAY THE 13TH IN POP CULTURE

An important milestone in the history of the Friday the 13th legend in particular (not just the number 13) occurred in 1907, with the publication of the novel Friday, the Thirteenth written by Thomas William Lawson.

The book told the story of a New York City stockbroker who plays on superstitions about the date to create chaos on Wall Street, and make a killing on the market.

The horror movie Friday the 13th, released in 1980, introduced the world to a hockey mask-wearing killer named Jason, and is perhaps the best-known example of the famous superstition in pop culture history. The movie spawned multiple sequels, as well as comic books, novellas, video games, related merchandise and countless terrifying Halloween costumes.

WHAT BAD THINGS HAPPENED ON FRIDAY 13TH?

In more recent times, a number of traumatic events have occurred on Friday the 13th, including the German bombing of Buckingham Palace (September 1940); the murder of Kitty Genovese in Queens, New York (March 1964); a cyclone that killed more than 300,000 people in Bangladesh (November 1970); the disappearance of a Chilean Air Force plane in the Andes (October 1972); the death of rapper Tupac Shakur (September 1996) and the crash of the Costa Concordia cruise ship off the coast of Italy, which killed 30 people (January 2012).

What Summer Slump?

Real estate in South Florida fluctuates depending on the season. While summer is considered to be slow due to the weather here in Miami, there’s no summer slump here. We’re as busy as ever in the ReMaxx/Quintero Team. There’s no real estate slump in our office.

There are key factors to consider whether you are looking to buy or rent a house. The first and most important one is location. As the saying goes, “location, location, location”. We cannot stress enough how important it is to find a location convenient for you, where real estate will continue to appreciate. Whether the purchasing process takes one day or one year, it makes a difference knowing that you will be comfortable in the house of your dreams.

Are you in the market for a property? Are you having trouble finding an affordable property? I help people reach their goals. Whether you want to sell or buy for the first time, refinance your existing loan, purchase an investment property, TODAY is your moment. Have a look at your options with the help of Mario Quintero of STC Loans. Mario has been in the Miami real estate and mortgage business since 2002. His experience is tested and true. Mario has helped thousands of clients reach their home ownership goals,

Because of this, let me be both your trusted Miami realtor and Miami mortgage broker.

I’m Mario Quintero, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage..

The USA Real Estate Market is Now More Valuable Than Ever

A home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. And apparently, that tab just hit its highest level in history. Without a doubt, the USA real estate market is more valuable than ever.

The median value of all homes in the United States in June surpassed $200,000. This is up 7 percent from a year ago, according to Zillow, a real estate listing company.

Valuing homes nationally is a tricky business because so many factors play into that value, including location, condition, lot size, aesthetics, and, yes, even Feng Shui. And there is no shortage of economists and data companies and real estate sale sites offering their perspective on current home values.

The National Association of Realtors has reported the median sale price of a U.S. home at well over $200,000 for more than a year, but that measure reflects only homes sold, not every house in every neighborhood that exists in America.

That sale price has shifted higher not just because of inherent home value but because of the mix of homes selling. Currently, more expensive homes are selling because there is a severe shortage of low-priced starter homes for sale. Higher volume on the pricier end shifts the median higher. If rental landlords suddenly dumped a few million low-priced homes on the market, and they sold fast, that median would shift lower immediately.

Estimating values is complicated, but the reason behind the rise in those values is simple: short supply. The inventory of homes for sale was down more than 11 percent in June, year over year, according to Zillow,

“The national housing market remains red hot and shows no signs of slowing.”

Are you in the market for a property? Are you having trouble finding an affordable property? I help people reach their goals. Whether you want to sell or buy for the first time, refinance your existing loan, purchase an investment property, TODAY is your moment. Have a look at your options with the help of Mario Quintero of STC Loans. Mario has been in the Miami real estate and mortgage business since 2002. His experience is tested and true. Mario has helped thousands of clients reach their home ownership goals,

Because of this, let me be both your trusted Miami realtor and Miami mortgage broker.

I’m Mario Quintero, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage..

The Perfect Gift for Mom…

What’s the best advice Mom ever gave you? Whatever it was, I bet it saved you much trouble and heartache. On this Mother’s Day, we celebrate our moms.

So have you picked out a special gift already? Or are you like the many who scramble at the last minute to get that perfect gift for mom? Ideas for gifts could range from flowers, to jewelry, to a handmade card, a gift card, taking mom out to eat, spending time with mom. Or, if you’re like some pro-athletes, you could even buy mom a mansion!

Did you know?

In today’s day and age, believe it or not, according to Jessica Lautz, the managing director of the National Association of Realtors in this recent publication, “Single mothers outnumber single fathers, and they might be more likely to seek out stability through real estate.” While this may be shocking to you, it’s a well-known fact women are the decision makers when buying homes. If married, husbands usually want to please their wives and let them not only pick out the best home for their family, but even let them decorate and furnish the same as their tastes choose.

Personally, I could not agree more. I let my wife, Claudia, take care of all out home’s decorating details. And I must say, she does a wonderful job at this.

So, once again, on this Mother’s Day, thank you to all the moms who work tirelessly to make every detail perfect for their families.

I help people reach their goals. Whether you want to buy for the first time, refinance your existing loan, purchase an investment property, or sell your home, TODAY is your moment. I’m Mario Quintero, of STC Loans, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage.

5 de Mayo in Miami

5 de Mayo in Miami offers visual images of much fun and celebration. Who doesn’t enjoy going out for drinks on a festive holiday together with friends? This year, 5 de Mayo falls on a Friday night. Talk about the most fun of weekly happy hours!

While all of this is good and true, it’s important to also keep safety in mind. Driving under the influence claims the lives of hundreds of people each year in Florida.

In 2014, in Florida alone, there were 31,783 arrests for driving under the influence, 797 deaths associated to DUI’s, 27% of all traffic accidents. In fact, DUI’s represent one of the leading causes of motor vehicle deaths every year. Is a 5 de Mayo DUI worth it? Ruining your life dreams for an extra sip of that drink is not worth it, trust me…

I help people reach their goals. Whether you want to buy for the first time, refinance your existing loan, purchase an investment property, or sell your home, TODAY is your moment. Have a look at your options with the help of Mario Quintero of STC Loans. Mario has been in the Miami real estate and mortgage business since 2002. His experience is tested and true. Mario has helped thousands of clients reach their home ownership goals,

I’m Mario Quintero, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage..

Miami Home Closing Celebration

The Mario Quintero team at Re/Maxx held a Miami home closing celebration this morning for our Re/Maxx buyers Julio & Meylin. STC Mortgage took of the financing. As you can imagine, the family is very happy with their new home purchase. A very special thanks goes out to our team members. Laura Menendez, senior loan processor/originator, handled all the financing details. Jackie Velazquez, Re/Maxx transaction coordinator arranged for everything to fall into place. And the entire team at C and C Title Agency achieved a smooth, hassle-free closing.

Just as I helped Julio and Meylin find their perfect and get the most competitive interest rate for their home purchase, I can help you, too. I help people reach their goals. Whether you want to buy for the first time, refinance your existing loan, purchase an investment property, or sell your home, TODAY is your moment. Have a look at your options with the help of Mario Quintero of STC Loans. Mario has been in the Miami real estate and mortgage business since 2002. His experience is tested and true. Mario has helped thousands of clients reach their home ownership goals,

I’m Mario Quintero, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage..

Miami Home Inspections

One of the new services we are offering under our marketing & listing plan is to pay in advance for Miami home inspections. This can be referred to as a pre-listing home inspection. This will be at our expense. We will review this inspection together with the seller. In this way, we may take care of many of the small items that can surface as a surprise thereby, reducing the potential for additional price negotiations.

A Pre-listing Home Inspection

Here are a few examples of what happened in our most pre-listing home inspection. This Miami home inspection concluded the following items had issues: termite infestation, grounding of the pool pump, minor cracks in the cement around the pool deck, adjustments to the electrical panel, a loose connection on the washing machine drain, peeled paint in 2 bathroom, and changing of the ceiling lamps. The seller chose to give a credit for the termite issue. The seller corrected the grounding of the pool pump, the minor cracks in the cement around the pool deck, the adjustments to the electrical panel, the washing machine drain, the peeled paint in the two bathroom walls and changed the ceiling lamps.

The latter changes were critical, since the potential could be financing with FHA or VA. All of those issues would have delayed the financing process. Additionally, they really had to be corrected anyway.

As you can see, the seller had their pre-listing home inspection. The seller is now able to take care of many of the corrections and therefore, eliminate potential problems when the future buyer has completed their home inspection.

Our seller was very happy with the results of this pre-listing home inspection. Moreover, the seller was impressed with our expertise. We are now ready to sell the home.

Why Work with Mario Quintero

Whether you want to buy for the first time, refinance your existing loan or even purchase an investment property, TODAY is your moment. Have a look at your options with the help of Mario Quintero of STC Loans. Mario has been in the reverse mortgage business since 2002. His experience is tested and true. Mario has helped thousands of clients secure and supplement their retirement through a reverse mortgage.

Get in Touch with Mario

I’m Mario Quintero, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage.

Baby Boomer or Millennial?

Are you a baby boomer or millennial? This year there are more healthy and happy baby boomers over 65 than ever before. At the same time, there are more millennials than ever before, many of whom are well-educated, but paying the price in terms of high student debt. Because of this, it keeps them living with their boomer parents longer.

Despite their financial and age differences, both these groups want the best for themselves and each other. For that reason, they appreciate the input of family and friends when choosing a product or service. Both prefer an enthusiastic introduction over the thought of working with the unknown.

It’s important you know I skillfully work with first-time home buyers, as well as folks who have bought and sold many homes. The next time you notice someone who would benefit from my help, call or text me immediately. I promise they’ll be delighted you introduced us.

Why Work with Mario Quintero

Whether you are a baby boomer or millennial, there are options available to you in terms of real estate. Have a look at your options with the help of Mario Quintero of STC Loans. Mario has been in the reverse mortgage business since 2002. His experience is tested and true. Mario has helped thousands of clients secure and supplement their retirement through a reverse mortgage.

Get in Touch with Mario

I’m Mario Quintero, your mortgage & realtor for life. Let me be your Miami home consultant. Our office specializes in both residential and commercial real estate and financing programs. Let me help you secure a conventional, jumbo, FHA and foreign national mortgage loans. Furthermore, we can help your elderly parents secure a comfortable retirement with a reverse mortgage.